...- ..-- ... - ._- JOHN HELD JQ DEL 51:Ul.9 THE NEWYORKER f " ; ;- f I II : - B ;:. , .' ' ;, : ;'1 f '. r . ! ' l J; f i ( I. !! i f I , I i- ABSENT-MINDED RARBER SHIM6US DANIEL BOON!' S COONSKIN HiT Gallic gestures had subsided somewhat" consented to give an explanation. "But nobody will wish to use the bath after you leave," he expostulated. "I t will be but a bedroom wasted." Brass S LOWLY the conviction deepens that not even Mr. Sinclair Lewis was able to do full justrce to the Bab- bitt type. I offer in evidence the tale given me by one of the members of the New York Symphony staff, lately returned from a tour of the provinces with Dr. Damrosch's orchestra. In a North Carolinian city, the local committees, Rotarians, Chamber of Commerce and the like, met to de- cide upon a form of welcome for the visiting musicians which would sus- tain the South's reputation for cordial- ity. At last they hit upon the ideal plan. When the tired members of the or- chestra tumbled from their car, they were met by the blare of fourteen wind instruments, tortured in the dis- sonances of the Shriners' Brass Band. Discipline T HE Transport Henderson, re. cently arrived from the West Coast, brought into port the Secretary of the Navy and Mrs. Wilbur and a couple of deep sea yarns: Some of the naval officers' wives were playing bridge on deck. One of the ladies, in the excitement of a re- double, lighted a cigarette. An instant or two later, Mrs. Wilbur, chancing by, removed the solacing brand from the tray where it had been laid and dropped it gingerly into the sea. "Tut, tut," she said. "Smoking on the Sabbath!" Another time there was a dance. After the party the ladies who had acted as hostesses were preparing to pass out the remnants of the refresh- ments to the sailors who had acted as wai ters, etc. Again the first lady of the Admir- alty appeared in a nick of time. In- tercepting a plate which wås intended for an innocent sailor, she called aside the wife of an officer of the fleet: "My dear! How do you expect us to maintain the discipline of the Navy?" The officer's wife said she didn't know. Charity R UPERT HU.GHES has disposed of his big country place near Bed- ford Hills, and last week held an auc- I. t i I ./ .. 11>- --. r-' .. .-......-. ..... - -- or::.. fJ :: ,: j! I ---_....... , -:.- ......" _ :a. ... ...-- '- - .... " ;:. r- ; . \ j. .} '.'; :1: . -=--:..=-= - ;. ..". . oJ. - . ---..-' ---- ....... tion to get rid of the furnishings. At the outset, the prices were not very commanding. Mr. Hughes had not gone in for antiques, and that is a fatal mistake in northern West- chester if one ever intends to break up housekeeping and sell off. The auc- tioneer and his followers invaded the author's studio, and a dictaphone- which sheds some light on the present modes of literary composition-went for $9. An expensive, but distress- ingly modern, rosewood desk yielded little better than cartage, and then a picture was brought to the block. Eventually three dollars was bid. "For the third and last time. Do I hear a quarter?" Mr. Hughes, who had been watch- ing the progress of events with dismay, thought his moment had come to in- tervene. "May I say a word? This drawing is an original by James Montgomery Flagg, presented to me by the artist. It was made to illustrate one of my books. A few days ago a similar one was sold on Fifth Avenue for $15 0 ." The author's appeal was not with- out effect. The bidding was resumed with spirit, and did not cease until Mr. Flagg's original brought $4. Mr. Hughes effaced himself, and strolled through his old living room.